What Do You Know about the Bridge of Sighs?

Tourism in Italy is literally full of surprises. For instance, the bridge of sighs which is considered as a great example of architecture with a greater story. So, let’s know more about its story.

The construction of the bridge started in 1600 and it is located in Venice, north Italy. Also, it’s considered as a great architecture in the Renaissance due to its attractive white limestone in addition to the stone bars of the windows.

Why is it Called the Bridge of Sighs?

There are few stories behind its name. The most known one is that it was built in order to allow prisoners to transfer them from the Doge’s Palace; where they can be interrogated, to the Prigioni prison on the other side or to another place to be executed (death penalty).

So, when they pass, they sigh while seeing the last glimpse of the world and the beauty of Venice before entering the prison.

The architect who designed this bridge called Antonio Contino whose uncle is the architect Antonio da Ponte who designed Rialto Bridge, which spans the Grand Canal in Venice.

The romantic poet Lord Byron wrote about it in his poem “Childe Harold trip holy” saying: I STOOD in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs, A palace and a prison on each hand.

The Italians loved the bridge so much, so in the seventeenth century they engraved its name on the currencies.

Also, according to an old legend, the lovers who kissed each others on the gondola under the bridge in the sunset, will have eternal love and bliss.